Two battle in GOP primary

ATLANTA -- Republican state School Superintendent Linda Schrenko has feuded openly with state Board of Education members off and on for the past eight years.

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Key Dates:

Aug. 19 -- Voter registration deadline for special election

Aug. 20 -- Primary election

Sept. 10 -- Runoff election (if needed)

Sept. 17 -- Special election

Oct. 7 -- Voter registration deadline for general election

Nov. 5 -- General election

Nov. 26 -- Runoff election (if needed)

Still, there are two Republicans who say they want the job.

Mitchell Kaye and Kathy Cox, both state representatives from the Atlanta area, are running for the GOP nomination to fill the schools post. Schrenko is leaving to run for governor.

Cox is a two-term lawmaker and Peachtree City teacher who has taught history, government and civics for the past 15 years.

She says she'd like to return more education control to local leaders, urging them to share information about their successes and struggles with each other.

''It's not going to take a new state law,'' said Cox, a member of the House Education Committee. ''We start by letting people solve their own problems. To me, that's the ultimate in local control.''

If elected, she says she would focus on lowering Georgia's dropout rate and decreasing school violence.

In the legislature, Kaye is known for his lengthy speeches attacking Democratic bills -- even those he plans to vote in favor of.

''I've been a partisan Republican. I make no apologies for that,'' said Kaye, a Marietta business appraiser. ''But when it comes to children, the politics needs to stop at the schoolyard door.''

Kaye said he's worked with Democrats behind the scenes to craft or perfect several bills in his 10 years in the legislature.

He said he would focus on raising expectations in what he calls a watered-down state curriculum and getting early help to students who are falling behind in reading skills.

Cox argues that her teaching experience and ability to work with others make her a better candidate.

''Mitchell is kind of a fire-thrower,'' said Cox, who is not related to Democratic Secretary of State Cathy Cox. ''That has served him well in some regards, but in other regards, he doesn't have the kind of relationships that I do with people at the Capitol.''

Kaye counters that Cox has a bad voting record on education issues.

He cites several specifics, including a vote by Cox against a bill allowing retired teachers to go back into the classroom without losing their retirement benefits.

''She has a terrible voting record when it comes to teaching issues,'' Kaye said. ''Sure, she is a teacher. I'm sure she does a very good job.

Meet the candidates

Name: Kathy Cox

Party: Republican

Age: 37

Born: Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Home: Peachtree City

Education: Bachelor's and master's degrees in political science, Emory University